CHRISTpromises, "He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." The way is plain; the will of God is manifest. We are not to live in doubt and uncertainty, and to rest satisfied while groping our way without a guide. Jesus does not, after giving us general directions, leave us to guess the way amid by-paths and dangerous passes. He leads us in a straight path; and while we follow him, our footsteps will not slide. It was God that led ancient Israel, though the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night concealed him from their view; and in this important period of the world's history, he will as manifestly lead his people. The path is no uncertain one. The way is marked out, and every step is ordered of the Lord.

God has ample light
and grace to bestow
upon all them that
fear him. Especially
will he help his
people in these
last days, when
Satan's devices
are so abundant,
so deceptive, and
so corrupting. To
those who will walk
in the truth, the
God of truth will
give grace according
to their needs.
He will fill their
hearts with peace,
and courage, and
confidence. But
mercy and truth
are promised only
to the contrite
and obedient. God
has said that justice
and judgment are
the habitation of
his throne; and
those who are disobedient
and rebellious will
not escape the visitation
of his just anger.

Worldly Associates And Amusements

Sow The Seeds Of Doubt And Skepticism

We cannot afford to separate ourselves from Jesus for a single hour. Without Him we are in danger of being overcome of Satan, who is ever watching to suggest doubt, unbelief, and error. The world is flooded with error; it meets us on every hand. It is taught from the sacred desk, and lurks in theology, in literature, in philosophy, in science. Error perverts the judgment and opens the door to temptation, and through its influence Satan seeks to turn hearts from the truth; but an intelligent love for the truth sanctifies the receiver, and keeps him from the enemy's deceptive snares.

Satan uses some
professed Christians
to lead souls from
the simplicity of
the gospel of Christ.
Worldly associates
and amusements sow
the seeds of doubt
and skepticism.
The sentiment of
many worldly professors
is, "Cause the Holy
One of Israel to
cease from before
us." "Speak unto
us smooth things;
prophesy deceits."
Many are daily cheating
their souls with
a form of godliness
without the power;
but the Lord has
removed his smile
and the inspiration
of his Spirit from
them. His displeasure
is against them,
because their deeds
are evil. He demands
decided changes
in the life and
character. Good
intentions, good
resolutions, good
acts, cannot be
accepted as substitutes
for repentance,
faith, and willing
obedience.

But Earthly Prosperity Is No

Evidence Of The Favor Of God

The people are too willing to believe their teachers without careful thought and prayerful investigation of God's word. They love to have their consciences quieted,--love to be rocked to sleep in the cradle of carnal security. In their blind selfishness, they deceive themselves in those things wherein they are willing to be deceived. Our Saviour declared to the Pharisees, "Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life." And in his conversation with Nicodemus he said, "Every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved." So in this age; the church will neither search the Scriptures nor listen to the truth, lest her works be reproved. She is more willing to depart from the commandments of God than from the customs and friendship of the world. And because great men and worldly wise men are in her favor, because numbers and temporal prosperity are hers, she believes herself favored of God,--"rich, and increased with goods, and in need of nothing."

But earthly prosperity
is no evidence of
the favor of God.
Christ and his apostles
teach us, both by
precept and example,
that the true child
of God cannot enjoy
the friendship of
the world. If he
seeks it, it will
become a snare to
him; he will adopt
the customs, precepts,
and standards of
the world, and will
finally become like
them in spirit.
But there can be
no fellowship between
the Prince of light
and the prince of
darkness. Says the
apostle John, "The
world knoweth us
not, because it
knew him not. Beloved,
now are we the sons
of God." They are
unknown, unacknowledged
by the world; but
their names, cast
out as evil by the
lovers of sin, are
written in the book
of life. They are
the adopted heirs
of Christ, the nobility
of Heaven. "These
are they that came
out of great tribulation,
and have washed
their robes and
made them white
in the blood of
the Lamb."

We Need Individually To Ask

Strength And Grace From Heaven

Many are not growing strong, because they do not take God at his word. They are conforming to the world. Every day they pitch their tents nearer to Egypt, when they should encamp a day's march nearer the heavenly Canaan. We need individually to ask strength and grace from Heaven, that we may resist the temptation to assimilate to the world. We cannot afford to be divided in heart and purpose, first serving God, and then yielding to temptations and paying homage to the world. Many of us have grown gray in the service of Christ, in pushing the triumphs of his cross. We have fought the battles of the Lord too long, and endured too much, to permit Satan to gain the victory over us. The voice of our Leader is commanding "Go forward," and we should obey, saying, as did Caleb, "If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land."

If we commit the
keeping of our souls
to God in the exercise
of living faith,
his promises will
not fail us; for
they have no limit
but our faith. "All
things are possible
to him that believeth."
We may make or mar
our own happiness.
Many pet and excuse
the defects in their
characters; but
these must all be
remedied. Every
deviation from the
right is sin, and
sin must be put
away. We cannot
afford to walk carelessly
before our brethren
or before the world.

Many confess their
sins again and again,
but do not put them
away by genuine
repentance. Unless
we have a firm purpose
and the aid of the
grace of God, strong
resolutions and
vigilant watchfulness
will be vain and
powerless when temptations
assail the soul;
and under such circumstances
some give up in
despair, fearing
that they must ever
remain the slaves
of sin. These have
not a living faith
in Jesus. We cannot
trust in ourselves;
if we do, we shall
fail. Jesus has
spoiled the powers
of darkness; and
it is through faith
in his might that
we shall be made
strong. He will
lift up a standard
against Satan in
behalf of every
trusting, believing
soul. We have the
assurance that his
grace is sufficient
for us, and that
we shall not be
tempted above that
we are able to bear.
This is our only
hope.

If Any Man Be In Christ, He Is A New Creature

The apostle says, "God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." When the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the Christian church at Pentecost, great wisdom and grace rested upon the whole body of believers. This blessing was given in answer to earnest, persevering prayer; and today God is just as willing to listen to the petitions of his people. "Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it."

"The fruit of the
Spirit is love,
joy, peace, long-suffering,
gentleness, goodness,
faith, meekness
, temperance." When
these fruits appear
in the life, a telling
influence will be
exerted upon the
world. The truly
converted man will
cease aspiring to
be thought great.
He will not seek
for worldly honor,
nor for luxury,
ease, or wealth;
neither will he
be sensitive to
reproach or neglect.
"If any man be in
Christ, he is a
new creature; old
things are passed
away; behold, all
things are become
new." Self is no
longer the supreme
object of love;
family and friends
are no longer the
boundary. His heart
is enlarged. Jesus
has the first place
in his affections;
he loves Christians,
because he sees
in them the image
of his Master, and
all mankind with
a love that prompts
him to do them good.
This is the fruit
growing on the true
Vine, more precious
in the sight of
God than all the
wealth and learning
of earth's great
men.

The unparalleled
exhibition of love
that was made on
Calvary shows how
God estimates souls.
If we have this
love in our hearts,
we shall seek to
win sinners to Jesus,
that for them this
great sacrifice
may not have been
made in vain. The
language of the
heart will be, "Come
and hear, all ye
that fear God, and
I will declare what
he hath done for
my soul." We shall
say with the psalmist,
"I have not hid
thy righteousness
within my heart;
I have declared
thy faithfulness
and thy salvation;
I have not concealed
thy loving-kindness
and thy truth from
the great congregation."
We shall rejoice
to speak of the
wisdom and goodness
of God as shown
in the way he has
led his people;
for we shall have
proved that "the
path of the just
is as the shining
light, that shineth
more and more unto
the perfect day."